“I am shocked and concerned by the negative portrayal of pesantren,” Nasaruddin said on Wednesday in Jakarta.
The broadcast included a sarcastic claim that “santri [students] must squat even to drink milk,” which many saw as disrespectful to pesantren’s values of politeness and the respect santri show to their kiai (religious leaders).
The segment triggered protests from the public and pesantren communities, including the prominent Lirboyo Islamic boarding school, demanding a retraction, public apology, and direct clarification from the TV station.
Trans Media, the broadcaster, has issued a public apology to both the public and Lirboyo’s kiai.
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Nasaruddin urged all parties to uphold the dignity of pesantrens, which have been a vital part of Indonesia’s history and civilization for centuries.
“Pesantrens are moral fortresses that have produced generations of scholars, leaders, and national figures,” he said.
He emphasized pesantrens as more than religious schools — they are centers for shaping moral character, humanity, and social values.
The minister expressed confidence in pesantren’s tradition of forgiveness and hoped this episode would serve as a valuable lesson.
Today, Nasaruddin is traveling to East Java to meet with several pesantren leaders.
“Pesantrens have long nurtured a polite and obedient society, fostering respect between students and teachers, and by extension, between citizens and their leaders,” he said.
He added that pesantren culture balances respectful people with dignified leaders, creating a harmonious social order crucial to Indonesian values.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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